CONTEST9

ROUND 1

1. Describe the expected observation when H2S gas is bubbled through a solution of Ca2+ ions.
ANSWER: No precipitate is formed or no observable change.
2. Describe the expected observation when NaOH solution is added drop wise and then in excess to
a solution of Cu2+ ions.
ANSWER: A light blue precipitate, insoluble in excess NaOH solution is formed.
3. Describe the expected observation when dilute ammonia solution is added drop wise and then in
excess to aluminum (III) ions in solution.
ANSWER: A white gelatinous precipitate, insoluble in excess NaOH solution is
Formed
PREAMBLE: Find the reactance of the given device at an angular frequency of 50 rad / s.
4. A 20 μ F capacitor.
ANSWER: 1 kΩ

X C =1 / ωC =1÷ ( 50 rad / s × 20× 10−6 F ) =1000 Ω=1 k Ω

5. A20 mH inductor.
ANSWER:1 Ω
−3
X L =ωL=50 rad / s ×20 ×10 H =1 Ω
6. A40 μ H inductor.
ANSWER:2 mΩ
−6
X L =50 rad / s × 40× 10 H=0.002 Ω=2 mΩ
7. Give one function each of the worker termites in a termitarium.
ANSWERS:
a. They build and repair the nest or the termitarium.
b. They keep the nest clean.
c. They collect the eggs and look after the nymph or young ones.
d. They tend the fungal gardens.
e. They fetch food and feed the other members of the colony.
PREAMBLE: Solve the absolute value equation.
8. |2x + 1| = 9
ANSWER: x = 4 or x = -5
[2x + 1 = ± 9, 2x + 1 = 9 or 2x + 1 = -9, 2x = 8 or 2x = -10, x = 4 or x = -5]
9. |2x – 3| = 7

ANSWER: x = 5 or x = -2
[ 2x – 3 = ±7, 2x – 3 = 7 or 2x – 3 = -7 , 2x = 10 or 2x = -4, x = 5 or x = -2]
10. |x – 5| = -3
ANSWER: no solution (since absolute value is non-negative!).
11. What is the hybridization of the bonding orbitals of the central atom in SiH 4?
ANSWER: sp3
12. What is the hybridization of boron in the monomer of (BH3)2 or B2H6?
ANSWER: sp2
13. What is the hybridization of the bonding orbitals of the central atom in phosphine PH 3?
ANSWER: sp3.
14. Find the wavelength of the fundamental mode of a stretched 2 m wire fixed at both ends.
ANSWER: 4 m
λ=2 L=4 m
15. Find the frequency of the fundamental mode of a 2 m wire fixed at both ends if the speed of transverse
waves on the wire is 100 m / s.
ANSWER: 25 Hz
f =c / λ=100 m / s ÷ 4 m=25 Hz
16. Find the speed of transverse waves on a stretched 2 m wire fixed at both ends if the frequency of the
fundamental mode is 200 Hz .
ANSWER: 800 m / s
c=fλ=200 Hz × 4 m=800 m / s
17. What name is given to a single cell formed as a result of union of a male sex cell with a female
sex cell?
ANSWER: Zygote
18. What term is used to describe the sum total of genes inherited from parents?
ANSWER: Genotype
19. What term is used to describe the outward appearance of an organism?
ANSWER: Phenotype
PREAMBLE: Find the degree measure of the exterior angle of a
20. regular pentagon
ANSWER: 72° [360/5 = 72]
21. rectangle
ANSWER: 90° [180 - 90 = 90]
22. regular hexagon
ANSWER: 60° [ 360/6 = 60]
23. A sealed vessel contains 3 moles of oxygen and 9 moles of helium. If the total pressure is
270kPa. What is the partial pressure of the oxygen?
ANSWER: Partial pressure = mole fraction * PT
= (3/12)*270 = 67.5 kPa
24. A sealed vessel contains 2 moles of nitrogen, 6 moles of helium and 6 moles of argon. If the
partial pressure of nitrogen is 40kPa, what is the total pressure of the three gases?
ANSWER: PN2 = mole fraction of N2 *PT
40 = (2/14)*PT
PT = 40*14/2 = 280kPa
25. A sealed vessel contains 4 moles of oxygen, 3moles of nitrogen and 5 moles of argon. What is the
partial pressure of argon, if the total pressure is 360 kPa?
ANSWER: PAr = 5/12*360 = 150kPa
PREAMBLE: Young’s modulus for a material is 800 Pa and its proportional limit is 600 Pa.
26. Find strain at the proportional limit.
ANSWER: 75 %
ϵ=σ / E=( 600 Pa ) / ( 800 Pa )=3 / 4=0.75=75 %
27. Find stress when strain is 10 % .
ANSWER: 80 Pa
σ =Eϵ =800 Pa× 0.1=80 Pa
28. Find strain when stress is 400 Pa .
ANSWER: 50 %
ϵ=σ / E=( 400 Pa ) / ( 800 Pa ) =1 / 2=0.5=50 %
PREAMBLE: Name the type of association that exists between the following organisms.
29. Mistletoe and orange
ANSWER: Parasitism
30. Toad and butterfly
ANSWER: Predation
31. Remora fish and shark
ANSWER: Commensalism
 PREAMBLE: Find the value(s) of x for which the expression is not defined
32. (x – 1)/x
ANSWER: x = 0
33. x(x- 2)/(x – 1)
ANSWER: x = 1
34. (x + 1)/(x2 – 4)
ANSWER: x = 2

ROUND 2

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

Describe the structure of a typical flower.

SOLUTION
1. A typical flower has a stalk known as pedicel.
2. The swollen top of the pedicel is called the thalamus where all the floral parts are arranged.
3. The flower has four floral whorls they are calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium.
4. The calyx and corolla are known as non-essential whorls.
5. The androecium and gynoecium are known as the essential whorls.
6. These essential whorls take part in fertilization.
 ROUND 3

True or False
1. The energies the electron in the hydrogen atom can have increase as the principal quantum
number increases.
ANSWER: True
2. The electron in the hydrogen atom cannot have zero orbital angular momentum.
ANSWER: False
3. For hydrogen atom, the largest value of the orbital angular momentum quantum number for a
given energy level equals the principal quantum number.
ANSWER: False
4. The cytoplasm of Amoeba consists of 2 distinct zones.
ANSWER: True
5. There are 2 contractile vacuoles in the cytoplasm of Amoeba.
ANSWER: False
6. Gaseous exchange in Amoeba does not require any special structures.
ANSWER: True
7. If two angles are vertical angles, they are congruent.
ANSWER: True
8. IF two angles are a linear pair of angles, they are congruent.
ANSWER: False
9. If two lines are cut by a transversal to form pairs of congruent corresponding angles, then the lines are
parallel.
ANSWER: True
10. In the reaction between magnesium metal and steam to form magnesium oxide, magnesium is acting
as a reducing agent.
ANSWER: True
11. In the reaction between silica and calcium oxide, calcium oxide is acting as an oxidizing agent.
ANSWER: False reaction is not a redox but acid – base
12. In the reaction of chlorine gas with the metal iron, chlorine will act as an oxidizing agent.
ANSWER: True
13. No force is needed to keep an object moving at constant speed.
 ANSWER: False
14. The acceleration of a moving object is in direct proportion to the net force acting on the object.
ANSWER: True
15. An object that is not moving does not have any forces acting on it.
ANSWER: False
16. Mycorrhiza is an association between bacteria and roots of certain plants.
ANSWER: False
17. The Sporangiophore contains and protects fungal spores.
ANSWER: False
18. Rhizopus reproduces both sexually and asexually.
ANSWER: True
19. If ax + b = 0, then x = b/a
ANSWER: False
20. If A = ½ (bh), then b = 2A/h
ANSWER: True
21. If a(x – 2) = b, then x = (b + 2a)/a
ANSWER: True
22. 2–Methyl–2–pentanol is a secondary alkanol.
ANSWER: False It is a tertiary alkanol.
23. Tollen’s reagent can be used to distinguish between 2–pentanone and pentanal.
ANSWER: True
24. Acidified potassium dichromate can be used to oxidize 2–methyl–2-hexanol.
ANSWER: False 2–methyl–2-hexanol cannot be oxidized.
 ROUND 4
Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am a natural phenomenon.
2. Although I am associated with particular substances,
3. I can be induced to occur in substances that are not associated with me.
4. I am associated with the emission of small particles such as electrons and photons from atomic
nuclei.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Radioactivity

Riddle #2
1. My name does not immediately imply energy change but that is what I am.
2. I could be of negative or positive value.
3. I am told the more negative I am the more desirable I am.
4. Those elements on the left of the Periodic Table tend to have my positive values.
5. I measure how readily or otherwise an anion can be created from a neutral atom.
6. If I am usually recorded in kJmol-1 then,
Who am I?
ANSWER: Electron Affinity

Riddle #3
1. So far as Mathematics and Physics are concerned, I am a force to reckon with.
2. I am credited with the development of Calculus.
3. I am a great scientist of the seventeen century.
4. I have several laws to my credit.
5. My first name is Isaac.
6. I am a measure of force.
Who am I?
 ANSWER:Newton

Riddle #4
1. We got our name from a Latin word which means “divided body”.
2. We are among the most diverse groups of animals on the planet
3. We may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of our species reside in
the oceans.
4. Our adults typically move about by walking, flying, or sometimes swimming.
5. Some of our species are regarded as pests by Humans, and there are attempts to control those using
insecticides and a host of other techniques.

WHO ARE WE?

ANSWER: Insects